The Call: Choral Works (inc. Oratorios)

Panufnik's setting of George Herbert's "Come my way, my truth, my life" arrives with genuine liturgical credibility: it was commissioned for Advent and premiered by one of Britain's finest collegiate choirs, then broadcast on BBC Radio 3. The piece carries real weight as a cathedral-quality work that your choir can actually sing with confidence and beauty.

Panufnik's setting unfolds with quiet dignity and harmonic sophistication. The writing feels spacious and liturgical, inviting singers into Herbert's prayer without sentimentality, while the harp creates a luminous backdrop that shifts subtly beneath the vocal lines.

This work suits cathedral and collegiate choirs, university singers, and advanced parish choirs with secure part-singing and access to a harp accompanist. It is equally valuable for choirs seeking substantial Advent repertoire that avoids the familiar carol literature while honoring the season's contemplative character.

• Balance the harp against the choir carefully in rehearsal; the accompaniment should support without obscuring inner voice lines, especially in the opening phrases.
• Shape the text with attention to Herbert's theological language; "my way, my truth, my life" deserves distinct vocal character at each appearance to deepen the spiritual arc.
• Work the SATB parts separately before ensemble rehearsal to ensure secure intonation in the harmonic language Panufnik uses, which rewards precision.
• Allow space for breath and reflection in slower sections; resist the urge to rush emotional moments that make this setting distinctive.

Program this as a centerpiece for an Advent service or concert, where its liturgical weight and broadcast pedigree command attention. It pairs naturally with other contemporary sacred works or stands alone as a complete musical statement within a longer choral service.

• Reading and balancing SATB voice parts with harmonic independence
• Sustaining long-line phrasing across multiple stanzas of liturgical text
• Ensemble coordination with harp accompaniment
• Interpreting contemporary choral sonorities while maintaining textual clarity
• Understanding liturgical context and seasonal programming of sacred choral music